Discharge valve construction for dispenser pump



1966 w. R. ODONNELL ETAL 3,223,571

DISCHARGE VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSER PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 12, 1964 INVENTORS Wdlmnj R. ODpnnell BQMD? Stumodfi 96E NT United States Patent 3,228,571 DISCHARGE VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSER PUMP William R. ODonnell, Trumbull, and Wolf Steiman, Fairfield, Conn., assignors to Valve Corporation of America, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 12, 1964, Ser. No. 374,682 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-321) This invention relates to small hand-held dispensers, and more particularly to pump type dispensers wherein a plunger is finger-actuated to pump out the contents of a container.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved dispenser pump of extreme simplicity which at the same time is reliably leak-proof not only during shipment, but also in storage, or during other periods of nonuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved dispenser pump as above set forth, wherein a simplified piston, plunger and discharge valve means are provided, to the end that the number and complexity of the components are reduced.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved dispenser pump in accordance with the foregoing, wherein the discharge valve means is positive-acting and especially foolproof while at the same time being economical to construct and assemble.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of an improved dispenser pump as provided by the invention, with the parts shown in the non-pumping or non-dispensing position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the dispenser pump.

FIG. 3 is a view like that of FIG. 1, but showing the pump plunger in the depressed position, effecting a discharge of the contents of the container.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view like that of FIG. 1, but showing a modification of the invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 13, there is shown the threaded neck portion of a container such as a bottle, said neck portion carrying an internally threaded cap and guide member designated generally by the numeral 12, such member having a lower chamber 14 accommodating the bottle neck 10 and an upper chamber 16, in which there is a manually engageable depress or actuator button 18.

Between the chambers 14 and 16 of the cap-guide member 12 there is disposed a transverse wall 20 having a centralized opening 22 through which a movable plunger shank or piston stem 24 extends. The transverse wall 20 clamps, between it and the top rim of the threaded neck 10, an annular sealing and mounting flange 26 from which there depends a cylinder 28 having a bottom nipple portion 30 provided with a dip or siphon tube 32. In the portion 30 there is a valve seat 34 engaged by a gravity influenced back-check ball valve 36.

A side wall of the cylinder 28 has a vent or air ingress opening 38 which is disposed at one side of a resilient piston skirt 40 carried by the piston stem 24. The skirt 40, in accordance with the invention, has a slightly conical configuration and at its upper end connects and functions with an annular bead or shoulder 42 carried or disposed at the lower end of an enlargement 44 engageable with the underside of the transverse wall 20 of the cap and constituting an upper stop or limit for the plunger and piston.

By the present invention, the piston shank or stem 24, skirt 40, bead 42 and enlargement 44 are all molded to be integral with each other, of resilient plastic substance. Not only does the skirt 40 engage the inside of the cylinder 28 to constitute a piston therefor, but the bead or shoulder 42 also engages the inside of the cylinder whereby, for the raised position of the plunger and piston as shown in FIG. 1 access to the side vent opening 38 of the cylinder from the cylinder inside is prevented. Thus, the contents of the container cannot leak out through the vent opening 38 when the plunger and piston are in the raised position of FIG. 1. However, when the plunger and piston are depressed as shown in FIG. 3, representing the discharging position of the pump, outside air may enter the container through the side vent opening 38, such air coming in through the clearance space between the piston stem 24 and the edges of the opening 22 of the transverse wall 20.

A piston return spring 46 engages an internal shoulder 48 of the piston, said spring being connected to the cylinder 28 so that it normally retains the piston and plunger 40, 24 in the raised, non-discharging position of FIG. 1.

The actuator button 18 has a hollow boss 50 which frictionally receives the upper portion of the piston stem 24, by which the button 18 is mounted thereon. A discharge orifice 52 of the button 18 connects with the hollow bore 54 of the piston stem 24 by means of a vertical channel 55 in the exterior of the piston stem 24, thereby to provide for discharge of the contents of the container when said contents are pumped through the hollow stem 24 under the action of the piston 40.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved and simplified, positive-acting discharge valve means is provided, by which the discharge channel comprising the bore 54 in the stem 24 is closed during the raised positions of the button 18, stem 24 and piston 40, and opened during the downward operating movement of the piston button and piston stem. The open condition of the discharge valve is shown in FIG. 3, said valve comprising a valve head or enlargement carried at the upper end of the valve stem 62, the latter being anchored at the lower portion of the cylinder 28 as by means of a discontinuous flange 64 held under the bottom end of the piston return spring 46 and maintained thereby against a shoulder 66 in the lower, nipple portion 30 of the cylinder.

The valve head 60 is cooperable with an annular internal valve seat 68 which is provided according to the invention in the bore 54 of the piston stem 24. Above the valve seat 68, the bore of the piston stem is larger than it is below the valve seat 68. Thus, for the discharging position of FIG. 3 it will be seen that clearance exists between the valve stem 62, valve head 60 and the interior configuration of the piston stem 24, such clearance providing an adequate passage for the upward discharge movement of the container contents which are being ejected from the cylinder 28.

However, for the raised position of the piston and plunger as shown in FIG. 1, the valve head 60 securely seats against the annular seat 68, thereby closing effectively the discharge passage through the inside or bore of the piston stem 24.

In accordance with the invention, the internal annular valve seat 68 is constituted as an integral part of the molding, such valve seat being accordingly resilient and readily formed by suitable die and core configurations in a mold. Further, the valve enlargement 60 is larger in diameter than the diameter of the hole through the valve seat 68 in order to enable the closing of the valve to be effected, but the difference is not so great that, coupled with the resiliency of the molded stem 24 and valve seat 68 the latter cannot in stretching enable the valve head 60 to be forced upward past it during the assembly of the valve to the piston.

It will be understood that the valve stem 62 and the head 60 as well as the mounting flange 64 thereof are molded as a piece separate from the piston-plunger assemblage, and that after the molding of these two pieces the valve stem and valve are forced upward into the bore thereof as illustrated, in conjunction with the integral,

construction of the valve and valve stem as illustrated represents a considerable simplification in the number of parts involving the discharge valve of the dispensing pump. Accordingly, a desirable economy of manufacture is accomplished. At the same time, however, the simplification does not adversely affect the operativeness of the discharge valve assemblage, but instead there is obtained a high degree of reliability in the functioning of the cooperable parts. The action of the discharge valve is positive in its nature, since the depressing movement of the button 18 and plunger assemblage at all times results in a positive opening of the valve. At the same time, the actionof the piston-return spring 46 insures a closing of the discharge valve and proper positioning of the piston in the raised, non-operative position when the dispenser is not in use.

The pumping action results from downward movement of the piston which, because of the closed back-check valve 36,'forces the contents of the cylinder 28 upward through the bore 54 past the stem 62 and valve 60 and out through the orifice 52. Air meanwhile can enter the container through the vent 38. Upward movement of the piston 40 sucks liquid from the container through the dip tube 32 into the cylinder past the back-check 36.

Another embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in FIG. 4. This embodiment is in many respects similar to that of FIGS. 1-3, except that the actuator button is of larger diameter and area, as Well as the upper portion of the cap guide member. Also, a slight difference exists in the shape or configuration of the piston skirt. As shown in FIG. 4, the piston skirt 74 has an annular bead or shoulder 76 engaged with the inner walls of the cylinder, as distinguished from the slightly conical piston skirt 40 of FIGS. 1-3.

The upper guide portion 78 of the cap-guide member is generally cylindrical and constitutes a continuation of the cylindrical lower portion 80 of the cap member. The actuator button 82 is also generally cylindrical and the mounting boss 84 thereof is centrally located in the cap, accommodating the upper portion of the piston stem 86. A shoulder 88 on the piston stem engages the lower edge of the boss 84, to position the button properly I on the stem.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 is in general similar to that already described above in connection with FIGS. l-3, the main differences existing in the structures involving the larger actuator button and guide portion, and the slightly difierent piston skirt configuration.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A dispensing pump construction comprising, in combination:

(a) a cylinder,

(b) a piston movable in the cylinder, having an operating stem with a through axial bore constituting a discharge channel from the interior of the cylinder, said stem having intermediate its ends an internal annular shoulder constituting a discharge valve seat, and

(c) a discharge valve disposed in said axial bore, said valve being engageable with the valve seat to close the discharge channel and having a stem extending out of the channel,

(d) an actuator button carried on the end of the piston stem,

le) means anchoring the valve stem to the cylinder, said means thus effecting an anchorage of the discharge valve whereby actuation of the button, the piston stem and the piston to move the latter further into the cylinder effects a separation of the valve from the valve seat,

(f) said piston stem and piston being of integral molded resilient plastic substance,

(g) said valve being slightly larger in diameter than the opening of the valve seat,

(h) said valve seat being circumferentially expansi'ble within limits and capable of sufiicient expansion to enable the valve to be forced through it whereby the valve stem extends through the seat, and

(i) said valve stem extending through and out of the piston to the cylinder end which is beyond the piston.

2. A pump construction as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the internal annular shoulder of the piston stem has a sloping lower surface facing toward the piston,

(b) said valve having a sloping upper surface facing away from the piston,

(c) said sloping surfaces having a cam action to effect said expansion of the valve seat when the valve is forced through the seat in the direction away from the piston.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,096,227 10/1937 De Weal 222321 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING PUMP CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A CYLINDER, (B) A PISTON MOVABLE IN THE CYLINDER, HAVING AN OPERATING STEM WITH A THROUGH AXIAL BORE CONSTITUTING A DISCHARGE CHANNEL FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CYLINDER, SAID STEM HAVING INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS AND INTERNAL ANNULAR SHOULDER CONSTITUTING A DISCHARGE VALVE SEAT, AND (C) A DISCHARGE VALVE DISPOSED IN SAID AXIAL BORE, SAID VALVE BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH THE VALVE SEAT TO CLOSE THE DISCHARGE CHANNEL AND HAVING A STEM EXTENDING OUT OF THE CHANNEL, (D) AN ACTUATOR BUTTON CARRIED ON THE END OF THE PISTON STEM, (E) MEANS ANCHORING THE VALVE STEM TO THE CYLINDER, SAID MEANS THUS EFFECTING AN ANCHORAGE OF THE DISCHARGE VALVE WHEREBY ACTUATION OF THE BUTTON, THE PISTON STEM AND THE PISTON TO MOVE THE LATTER FURTHER INTO THE CYLINDER EFFECTS A SEPARATION OF THE VALVE FROM THE VALVE SEAT, (F) SAID PISTON STEM AND PISTON BEING OF INTEGRAL MOLDED RESILIENT PLASTIC SUBSTANCE, (G) SAID VALVE BEING SLIGHTLY LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN THE OPENING OF THE VALVE SEAT, (H) SAID VALVE SEAT BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXPANSIBLE WITHIN LIMITS AND CAPABLE OF SUFFICIENT EXPANSION TO ENABLE THE VALVE TO BE FORCED THROUGH IT WHEREBY THE VALVE STEM EXTENDS THROUGH THE SEAT, AND (I) SAID VALVE STEM EXTENDING THROUGH AND OUT OF THE PISTON TO THE CYLINDER END WHICH IS BEYOND THE PISTON. 